diff --git a/dmoj/executors/CBL.py b/dmoj/executors/CBL.py
index 343984385..33cd52d08 100644
--- a/dmoj/executors/CBL.py
+++ b/dmoj/executors/CBL.py
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ def get_compile_output(self, process):
         for prefix in (b'Error:', b'Note:', b'Warning:'):
             if prefix in output or prefix.lower() in output:
                 return output
-        return ''
+        return b''
diff --git a/dmoj/executors/PAS.py b/dmoj/executors/PAS.py
index 5a1b876b1..d3d6b25d7 100644
--- a/dmoj/executors/PAS.py
+++ b/dmoj/executors/PAS.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def get_compile_args(self):
 
     def get_compile_output(self, process):
         output = super().get_compile_output(process)
-        return output if b'Fatal:' in output or b'Warning:' in output or b'Note:' in output else ''
+        return output if b'Fatal:' in output or b'Warning:' in output or b'Note:' in output else b''
 
     @classmethod
     def get_version_flags(cls, command):